FAIRFIELD — It might seem strange to some to see holiday Christmas decorations, lights and presents on a warm, sunny summer day, but for residents of area nursing homes, Christmas in July is something to look forward to all year.

The holiday party at the Melody Ranch music club in Fairfield has been put on for 24 years, said Bethany Vigue, the club’s owner. The event was held in December for a long time, but winter storms kept complicating the schedule. A few years ago, Vigue moved the party to summer, when weather is more reliable.

Moving the date hasn’t put a damper on the Christmas spirit, though. The music hall was decked out with lights, a big fir tree with presents underneath, music, dancing, a meal of ham, beans and sides, music and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.

About 200 residents of 12 area nursing homes made the trip for the celebration. People came from Winthrop, Farmington and Bingham among other towns for the celebration.

Tables were full of smiling people as Christmas supper was served around noon, followed by dessert with cake and ice cream. The partiers had just finished grooving on the dance floor to Christmas tunes and classics.

Lois MacDonald, 84, from Mount St. Joseph residence and rehabilitation in Waterville, said the event reminded her of a time she went to Melody Ranch when she was younger. She took the opportunity Thursday to take her wheelchair for a spin on the dance floor.

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“I love to dance,” MacDonald said. “I don’t get much of a chance to do that now.”

MacDonald moved into Mount St. Joseph with her husband, Bud, last year, and this was her first Christmas in July party. She was excited to learn that the nursing home took part in the event, she said.

“My favorite part is seeing all the people,” MacDonald said. “They seem so happy, dancing and laughing, having such a wonderful time.”

A few tables away, Beverly Durrell, from Cedar Ridge Center in Skowhegan, was wearing a small silver tiara on her head while dessert was served.

“I’m the queen of the house,” she said. Durrell, 89, moved into Cedar Ridge earlier this year. Like MacDonald, this was her first time at Christmas in July. She was “thrilled” to learn about the annual outing, she said.

“It gives you a different atmosphere,” Durrell said. Residents can get out of the house for the afternoon and get to see the tree-lined roads, fields and hills on the way down to the party.

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“We get good care, but it’s nice to take a ride somewhere else,” Durrell said.

Getting residents out of a nursing home and socializing with other people is a big part of the event, said Jamie Doiron, the recreation director at Cedar Ridge, and over the years it has become something they really look forward to. Doiron has been coming to the event for 18 years.

“It’s a traditional thing,” Doiron said.

Even though the event is a fun time for everyone, Shirley Phillips said that the first time she came, she was overwhelmed with emotion. Phillips has been helping Vigue put on the event for the past 22 years. The first time she came to the party, the sight of everyone dancing and singing along to Christmas tunes made her choke up, she said.

“It gets emotional,” she said. “Some of them don’t have anyone. This is their chance to get outside.”

“When you see their faces, it makes you feel good.”

Peter McGuire — 861-9239

pmcguire@centralmaine.com

Twitter: PeteL_McGuire


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